Fear Not: Joshua
Fear Not: Joshua.
“After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua, Moses’ assistant. ‘No one will be able to to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. This is my command – Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'” (Joshua 1:1, 5, 6, 9).
Yahweh was Joshua’s cheerleader as he prepared to take the leadership of the Israelites. Joshua stood ready to take over from Moses as the people camped at their entry point near the Jordan River. Because he had been trained for forty years as Moses’ assistant, God Himself believed in Joshua and had appointed him to be Moses’ successor. Joshua had already proven himself, too, as a faithful spy and talented military general in an early battle in the wilderness. So now it was Joshua’s turn to lead the people, and he needed a heavenly pep talk from the Lord. It was important that he knew God had confidence in him. It was clear that Joshua would be successful as long as he had a courageous heart, obeyed God’s Law, and remained dedicated to God’s Word (the Book of Instruction). Joshua started out strong, and he stayed strong as he conquered the Promised Land. He was wise enough to carefully follow God’s battle plans each step of the way, and he remained dependent on Yahweh throughout his time of leadership.
An Answer to Fear: Listening to God speak through His Word and through wise believers will guide you through daunting tasks. Life’s challenges can seem overwhelming as you face daily temptations and difficult situations. Allowing God to inspire us through Scripture and through His saints will go far in addressing any fearfulness you might have. It is important to gain the confidence of people you trust. And leaning on wise people speak God’s truth will often strengthen and encourage you. Stepping out in faith will soon convince us that strength for the task and courage for the challenge before you will become available as you trust in God’s presence and sufficiency.
Take Heart: “O Lord, you are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God is my strong fortress, and He makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.” (2 Samuel 22:30-36).